Rally Raid Morocco: Loeb takes victory on the third stage, Sainz leads

Following Tuesday’s retirement on the first stage due to electrical problems – which cost Loeb any chance of a top finish in the fourth round of the World Rally Raid Championship – the Alsatian enjoyed a major success today.

Together with his co-driver Eduard Boulanger, he finished the 363-kilometre special stage from and to Zagora (228-kilometre liaison) in a time of 3 hours 42.34 minutes, relegating Spaniard Carlos Sainz to second place with a 7.19-minute lead. His closest rival in the World Championship, Seth Quintero (Toyota), finished third, 8.10 minutes behind.

Haudegen Carlos Sainz: Alter schützt vor Tempo nicht

Foto: Red Bull

Sébastien Loeb, nine-time World Rally Champion, secured his 25th stage victory in the Rally Raid World Championship and said: “It went really well. The stage was long and demanding, full of tricky sections, both in terms of hazards and navigation. We did make a few navigation errors, but we were able to react quickly and get back on track. No punctures – a really successful special stage.”

Veteran Carlos Sainz, who has finished runner-up three times at the Rallye du Maroc, could finally win it after taking the lead today. It would also be Ford’s first victory in this rally. For the first time since switching to Ford, Sainz has regained the overall lead in a World Rally Raid Championship round – the first time since his victory in an Audi at the 2024 Dakar.

Zero-Hero-Situation für Dacia-Pilot Sebastien Loeb in Marokko

Foto: Red Bull

American Seth Quintero has moved up to second place in the overall standings in his Toyota. In the provisional World Championship standings, he lies in third place, not far behind the Dacia Sandriders duo of Loeb and Nasser Al Attiyah, who struggled with technical problems during the first two stages.A podium finish in Morocco would significantly boost Quintero’s World Championship chances, as he currently trails Loeb by 13 points. Loeb hopes to pick up further valuable stage points – such as the five he received today for his victory – to defend his lead in the World Championship.

Guillaume de Mevius in the X-raid Mini finished fourth in today’s stage and is currently sixth in the overall standings.

Seth Quintero im Toyota auf Podiumskurs

Foto: Red Bull

Nani Roma (Ford) finished fifth today, whilst Jaoe Ferreira (Toyota), the winner of the first stage, came sixth. They currently occupy third and fourth places in the provisional standings.

Following his early retirement yesterday, Yazeed Al Rajhi and his co-driver Dennis Zenz finished seventh in their Toyota.

In the Challenger category, Matthias Walkner, in the South Racing Can-Am Maverick, finished seventh, losing almost two hours to the stage winner, Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli (Can Factory Team). The Argentine has thus taken the lead in the class. Walkner has dropped back to second place.

Yazeed Al Rajh/Dennis Zenz mit dem Toyota auf Platz sieben

Foto: A.S.0.

Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel (Defender) led the way in the Stock category for production-based vehicles.